New report links volunteering in nature with better mental health

Wednesday 4th October 2017

The Wildlife Trusts have published a new report which examines the effects of volunteering in nature on people’s mental health.

The study which was carried out by the University of Essex found:

95% of participants who were identified as having poor levels of mental health at the start, reported an improvement in 6 weeks, which increased further over 12 weeks

The mental wellness of more than two-thirds (69%) of all participants had improved after just 6 weeks

Improvements were greatest for people new to volunteering with The Wildlife Trusts and those who had poor levels of mental health at the start

Participants also reported significantly enhanced feelings of positivity, increased general health and pro-environmental behaviour, higher levels of physical activity and more contact with greenspace.

The study, ‘The Health and Wellbeing Impacts of Volunteering with The Wildlife Trusts’ was the third phase of research carried out by the University of Essex on behalf of the 47 wildlife trusts, including Northumberland Wildlife Trust.

It assessed changes in 139 participants’ attitudes, behaviour and mental wellbeing over the course of 12 weeks during which time they took part in nature conservation and volunteering activities. Most of the participants were attending projects because of a health or social need (they may have been suffering with a mental health problem or were cut off from other people resulting in loneliness and inactivity).

In this region, hundreds of people benefit from volunteering with Northumberland Wildlife Trust each year from putting up fences and installing dams on reserves to building the Wildlife Discovery Centre at Hauxley on Druridge Bay and serving tea and coffee to customers from around the world at the wildlife charity’s two visitor centres on its reserves.

Duncan Hutt, Northumberland Wildlife Trust Head of Druridge Bay Living Landscape and Land Management says: “The results of this research project make a powerful case for nature having a larger role in people’s every-day lives. The evidence is loud and clear - volunteering in wild places while being supported by Wildlife Trust staff throughout the UK has a clear impact on people’s health; it makes people feel better, happier and more connected to other people. Participants also reported increases in their sense of connection to nature.

“The Department of Health should take note - our findings could help reduce the current burden on the National Health Service because they illustrate a new model of caring for people that does not rely solely on medication and traditional services.”

Dr Mike Rogerson, University of Essex, says: “.The research revealed how volunteering with meaningful, nature and craft-focussed activities may be beneficial to both the general public and individuals with defined needs. At a time when we are losing count of local and national-level health, wellbeing, loneliness, community, and NHS burden crises, engagement with the Wildlife Trusts’ volunteering activities can provide a much-needed antidote for individuals, local areas and the UK as a whole.”

Northumberland Wildlife Trust is always keen to receive enquiries from people interested in volunteering. For more information visit: www.nwt.org.uk/volunteer